Growing up in rural Karnataka, Anjali Devi’s educational journey began in Gauribidanur village, where she completed her schooling. She later pursued engineering at a government-aided college in Bengaluru.
Her father, an auto driver, and her mother, a homemaker, have always been her pillars of strength, even though the family came from a humble background. The family’s monthly income barely touched Rs 6,000 — a meagre amount to cover their needs, let alone Anjali’s education.
“But a generous sponsor from our village recognised my academic excellence and helped me navigate our financial challenges. His help got me admission to the college. I was trying my best to perform well in academics. I would top all exams,” she shares.
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However, upon graduating, Anjali faced a major setback — there were no campus placements available.
“I was in the final year of my college, and I was looking forward to getting a job so that I could support my family. This left me heartbroken and devastated,” she adds.
The prospect of unemployment loomed large over Anjali. This put a heavy burden on her, as she was the eldest daughter in her family of five. Desperate to help her family, she took up the role of a lecturer at a diploma college, where she honed her skills and found joy in imparting knowledge to her students — all the while yearning for a role that aligned more closely with her career aspirations.
Soon, Anjali learnt about a training opportunity provided by the Bengaluru-based Unnati Foundation, which was crucial in developing her professional abilities, including spoken English, life skills, and workplace etiquette.
“This one-month training played a significant role in improving areas where I was lacking, especially in communication and confidence. Though my beginnings were rooted in my native language (Kannada), I soon embraced English to broaden my horizons,” she adds.
It was this opportunity that allowed Anjali to truly showcase her capabilities. The skills and confidence gained during the training eventually assisted her in securing an internship and, subsequently, a job at Broadridge Financial Solutions. Despite the challenges of keeping up with diverse coding languages, her determination saw her through, and she has now been in this role for over a year.
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This employment was crucial for her as she supports her family financially.
“Today, I am earning Rs 40,000 per month. I can support my family, and I also ensure that my younger siblings receive the best education possible,” adds the 24-year-old.
Like Anjali, Unnati Foundation has played a significant role in the professional journey of at least three lakh youth across 12 Indian states, including Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
We sat down with Unnati Foundation’s director, Ramesh Swamy, to learn how he is bridging crucial skill gaps and creating opportunities to make youth more employable in a competitive market.
Beating unemployment in 35 days
In 1984, Ramesh’s journey began in Bhopal, where he found himself amidst the chaos of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. Although untouched by the physical devastation, the mental images and experiences left a lasting impact on him. “These early encounters with crisis sculpted my views on life. This urged me to explore ways to make a significant societal impact,” he says.
Returning to Bengaluru, he joined his family business, steering it successfully for over four decades. However, a calling larger than business profits beckoned.
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Spurred by a passion for community service, he focused his mission on uplifting the underprivileged youth of India. He went on to establish Unnati Foundation in 2003 to offer a comprehensive skill development programme designed to propel youth above the poverty line.
With this, he initiated two groundbreaking programmes aimed at equipping the youth with tools necessary for modern workforce challenges.
One of the two main models is the Centre Model, which offers in-depth training in English, life skills, computers, and specific vocational skills over 300 hours. The other, the UNEXT Model, involves collaboration with universities, targeting final-year students with a focus on English and life skills.
Ramesh explains that the training lasts 35 days for the Centre Model and 90 hours for the UNEXT Model. He adds that they invest Rs 10,000 to manage operational costs per participant, which is supported through corporate CSR funding.
“We do not charge any fee for training, except for working youth in Bengaluru who can afford to contribute Rs 5,000 towards food and accommodation — which is not included in the training cost,” says Ramesh.
To date, the NGO has trained thousands of students, moulding them into confident professionals ready to face the world. The programme not only focuses on academic growth but also on life skills such as communication and personality development, which are crucial in today’s competitive job market.
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Working through 50 centres nationwide, the NGO trained more than 1.2 lakh students in 2024–2025. With special emphasis on rural youth, over 50 percent of the participants are women. Interestingly, it claims to offer guaranteed job placement in the Centre Model, with 100 percent job offers by the end of the 35-day training. “With this, we are inspiring a generation to move above the poverty line,” mentions Ramesh.
Changing lives, one skill at a time
For instance, Karnataka-based Velmurugan D transformed his life after attending the programme in August 2024. Before embarking on this journey, Velmurugan faced significant challenges. “I did not know English at all,” he admits.
Despite holding a diploma in mechanical engineering, Velmurugan had remained unemployed for over a year after graduating in 2023. “Through the programme, I gained proficiency not only in English but also in Excel and Tally — skills that are indispensable in today’s job market. The programme also offered specialised training in telecommunications, focusing on railway signal systems. This skill was directly relevant to the booming telecommunications industry,” he says.
Thanks to this comprehensive training, Velmurugan secured a job at a notable telecommunication company in Yadgir. “After completing the course and skill training, I secured a job in October — just two months later. I am no longer unemployed. With a decent monthly income, I am able to support my family,” he shares.
The NGO collaborates with several prominent organisations, including HDB Financial Services, Teleperformance India, and Westside, to provide employment opportunities. It is also supported by sponsors such as Infosys, Boeing, and General Electric.
“Initially, we aimed to train 50–60 people annually. But we grew significantly to train large numbers, reaching 5,320 participants by 2008. We expect to reach out to one million youth by 2030. We aim for participants to earn starting salaries of Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000. This can significantly lift families above the poverty line forever. For those interested in joining the movement, our doors are always open,” mentions Ramesh.
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All images courtesy Unnati Foundation
